Mancini leaves Benjani's Manchester City future in his striker's hands

29 Jan 2010 13:54:23

Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini will leave it to Benjani to decide whether he wants to leave Eastlands.
Benjani has been linked with a move to Sunderland and could be the second striker to move on in a matter of days. Robinho sealed a loan move to Santos in his native Brazil on Thursday.
Even though Roque Santa Cruz remains absent with a calf injury, Mancini believes he has enough cover to cope.
Gone or going, but not forgotten: Benjani (left) and Robinho
On Benjani, Mancini said: 'I spoke with him two days ago and he told me he had a possibility to go and play. We have a lot of strikers but he it is up to him to decide.
'If he wants to stay here I will be happy. He is a good player and a good man.'
Italian boss Mancini insists Robinho still has a future at the club beyond his loan spell in his homeland.
Mancini said: "I spoke with him and said if you want to stay here I will be happy. But if you want to go to Brazil, you can go.
'He said 'Okay I will go back to Brazil for six months because the World Cup is coming'.
'But after the World Cup I think he can make it here. He will come back here because for me, he is a fantastic player and he has a good talent.
'He can go back to Brazil, stay with his family and play in every game for Santos. That is important to him and I understand that.'
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